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Fake News From Cardinal’s Top Aide Puts Thousands At Risk

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Colombo endangered the lives of hundreds of thousands of people today by becoming the newest, most far-reaching fake news source.

Cardinal Malcom Ranjith

Rev. Fr. Deninton Subasinghe, the principle assistant Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith and the Administration Secretary of the Archdiocese of Colombo, sent out an unverified mass text message to parish priests in the early hours of Monday, 13 May, claiming that he had intelligence on terrorists wearing military fatigues.

The full message read,

Forwarded from His Eminence Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith.

FOR URGENT ATTENTION

Dear Father, good morning. I have complaints of terrorists clad in Army and police uniforms coming to houses to attack with swords. Kindly be on alert and inform your parishioners not to open the door. God bless.

Fr Deninton Subasinghe

Security sources said that the message puts civilians at risk as police and military conducting legitimate search operations would treat those who refuse access as hindering searches. The Emergency Regulations under the State of Emergency authorise security personnel to use force to enter properties if necessary.

Colombo Telegraph reliably learns that the message was not cleared with the Cardinal before it was sent in the early hours of on Monday.

The message was expected to reach to reach nearly a million Roman Catholics which come under the nearly 250 parishes under the Archdiocese though parish priests, and the other ten diocese in Sri Lanka.

Multiple sources from the Archdiocese confirmed that Fr Subasinghe did not verify the information from government sources, nor did he inform or consult the military deployed to the Archbishop’s Residence before sending his message.

The Government and Security Services had earlier threatened that those who spread fake news that would incite violence will be arrested.

However, two sources from the newly set-up Joint Operations Command under Maj Gen Sathyapriya Liyanage said that they have been ordered not to scrutinise Fr Subasinghe’s actions.

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Conchshell/May 16, 2019

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A Disgusted Catholic/May 14, 2019

Long overdue.
Now both, this Cardinal and his Assistant should get their heads examined.

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Indrajith/May 14, 2019

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F… you. At least they warned us of a possible danger. Hats off to the Cardinal and Fr. Subasinghe.

Be modest in making fu..g comets. Better check your heard first

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A Disgusted Catholic/May 14, 2019

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Warned?????? They are only spreading a fear psychosis instead of defusing the existing situation

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Vish/May 15, 2019

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If u having a spin dont hide.add commnts by ur real name men with out addin commnts by a fake name.we want to know who r u the disgusted catholic.

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Leonard/May 15, 2019

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“Be modest in making fu..g comets”

Now folks read Mr. Indrajith comment uncoherent may be but I may humbly suggest he is the epitome of modesty and so unassuming humble unpretentious and may even be a devout Catholic! with a fetish wanting to engage in sexual act to put his point across.
Could this fetish be due to his up bringing in the Catholic doctoring who’s hierarchy is been left on the hands of celibate men or his family background or his Catholic Modesty.

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A Disgusted Catholic/May 15, 2019

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Don’t waste you time responding to such crude comments. It only goes to show their background and upbringing.

Vish/May 15, 2019

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Romeish de Mel/May 14, 2019

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I have personally spoken to Fr Deninton, and it seems that this information has been taken out of context. It would be greatly appreciated if the writer of this article speaks to Fr. Deninton directly. Could I please be connected to directly to the writer, so that I could put the writer directly onto Fr Deninton.

Thank you and Gods Blessings

Romeish de Mel
Mob No. 077 00 555 77

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Nimal/May 14, 2019

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Romeish

Please tell what Fr. Deninton told you.

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Gamaya/May 14, 2019

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Shouldn’t the Father take the initiative to correct or deny this instead of expecting the media to revert. All Catholic churches got a text warning them based on a fake news. Mistakes and misinterpretations do occur and as a man of cloth, the Father knows it better to correct the situation. Isn’t it the right thing to set the records straight.

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A Disgusted Catholic/May 14, 2019

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If they confine themselves to their Religious doctrines, and look after their flock, instead of getting involved in politics, nothing of what we are experiencing today would have happened

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clean slate/May 14, 2019

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Fr. Deninton can be reached at the Archbisop’s House number. The message given to all by parish priests is not having taken the message out of context. It was clear. It scared the shit out of many in parishes. Fortunately, there were some who could reason out that it would be impossible for Jamath terrorists who are greatly outnumbered in the archdiocese of Colombo to enter houses with swords and treat that silly message as foolish.

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A Disgusted Catholic/May 14, 2019

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Foolish is putting it mildly. They are only spreading a fear psychosis instead of defusing the existing situation

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Marina Therese Faiz/May 14, 2019

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Many lives were at risk by neglect of information by those who received them and did not take action. Everyone knows this So we must do every bit to safe guard life and avoid every minor chance of losing thousands of lives. The Easter Sunday attack happened because those responsible did not heed warnings. Today children are traumatized without their parents, parents are suffering without their children, many are suffering with deep injuries that will never heal in their life time because of inaction by those responsible.

So these so called intelligent people are commenting on a news item that was sent in good faith to safeguard lives, which was not meant for public circulation. I think this priest has done his duty. In the process these so called highly learned are attacking the hierarchy of the Church who averted a blood bath and a repeat of the 1983 crisis. So soon they have forgotten this or are they a bit envious that they are not regarded. What a world we liven in, when opinions and unjust condemnations are more important than human lives.
May God bless and protect us all from such small minded people.

Fr Deninton Subasinghe is an evil sprite (satans man in hell) with Cardinal. ( his face is not good) So Satan can attack Catholics by getting permission from God. Thats the reason for May 21 attack. Pl. inform Cardinal to remove this father and check. Also to check relation between Mahanda Rajapakse(MR 1) and Cardinal Malcom Ranjith(MR 2)

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Marina Therese Faiz/May 15, 2019

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I wonder whether you are satan’s advocate that you know much about him. One evil spirit recognizes others also like him even if they are not. So you better check on your spirit to see if it is right, because God is not going to ask you what Fr. Deninton did, but what you have done.
Everyone here giving such ideas and condemnations to a man who did just what others should have done in the first place, is thinking that God is going to ask them what Fr. Deninton did and punish him. But they don’t realize that God is watching them and counting their sins, to open the can of worms that they have collected during their life time on judgement day. I pity such people.

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Keynes!/May 14, 2019

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Holy Father!

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A Disgusted Catholic/May 14, 2019

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Father Benny, if that is your real name, the Priest mentioned is the Secretary of this politically motivated Cardinal

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A Disgusted Citizen/May 14, 2019

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Yes, according to Emergency Regulations the person who sent this message should be arrested.
Will it be done is the question?

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A Disgusted Catholic/May 14, 2019

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Nobel Prize for this politically motivated man?????? What an insult
Aren’t there more deserving people to get this Prize?

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Rabok/May 14, 2019

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Where the hell he has uttered a single word in support of a political party in this country ?? HE only came forward to save this country from traitors like you who is uttering rubbish to show the world that you are the most liberal minded democratic in the country – Phoo!! my foot – do you think some idiot would suggest that you for the Nobel Price ?? then my dogs name also suitable choice

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Vish/May 15, 2019

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Challanging you. Tell me what is the poltical background of his eminence.
Please watch this video and reply for the question.

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Romeish de Mel/May 14, 2019

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This clarification was sent to me by Fr. Deninton, and I have got his permission to send it across to you.
On a personal note, would appreciate all contributors to the Colombo Telegraph sign off with their names and contact details, so that any clarification could be sent direct to the relevant writer.

Thank you and God Bless. Romeish

Clarification……
The private message in question that has been circulated on social media was originally sent to an explicitly small group of clergy only. The message was sent as a note of caution based on a tense situation that arose in certain parts of Negombo in the wee hours of last Monday, the 13th May 2019. The message was intended only for those few priests in the locality and not to the “world at large”. The reference made in the article published by the Colombo Telegraph that “it was expected to reach nearly a million Catholics in 250 parishes in the Archdiocese through Parish Priests and the other ten dioceses in Sri Lanka” is incorrect. In any event, I deeply regret the disturbance caused by this alert, which was forwarded to unintended recipients without my knowledge.
Fr. Deninton Subasinghe

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Marina Therese Faiz/May 14, 2019

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I wonder why my previous comment was not published??????

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Ajith/May 14, 2019

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Every political leadership and religious leadership in this country is trying to get advantage from the carnage of the people. The fake news or intelligence warnings started immediately after the 21st bomb blast which killed more than 250 lives and over 500 injuries. Even inthe ithe first instance, hospital sources said over 350 deaths but the revised their figures. US intelligence services warned about further attacks. Opposition leaders asked about the fear of gas attack on 13th May. Various people revealed there are 50 or 100 more suicide bombers in the country and imminent threat of attacks. Unfortunately the government or the defence did not comment or clarify people or assure people what sort of measures the people have to take to avoid that or what sort of measures security forces taken to prevent such attacks.
I don’t know why the cardinal took the security job into their hands. Every citizen should be protected, not Catholics only. The threat is not only for Catholics. It is true that there was no violence against Muslim community immediately after the bomb blast. Most of us believed Sinhalese have matured after 1983 riots, but now every day we hear attack on Mosques, businesses and properties of Musims in many parts of the country. Looking at all, all the opportunistic political and religious leadership were expecting for such situation to take advantage over their personal benefits.

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clean slate/May 14, 2019

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Some comfort gained in explaining the limited circle of priests to whom the message was sent. Apparently, even among those priests there is a judas whom Fr. D should soon find out and name him as he cannot be relied on to keep a secret. People should be stopped
from going to this priest for confession. Fr D should have come out with this earlier instead of waiting until Romeish intervened.

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Non-Catholic Sinhala-Buddhist/May 14, 2019

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At this moment when the Govt.Leaders (President and Prime Minister) have shown themselves to bw UTTERLY incompetent and also clueless, they and their word are NOT respected by the people.Ranil Wickremasinghe is behaving like a headless chicken, while Sirisena has run away to China
while the country is on fire .
ONLY the CARDINAL had commanded some respect by his swift actions, and he was able to prevent spontaneous clashes which would have been returned with violence using all those swords stacked in many mosque and houses.
Now we have the second level of burning anger coming out.SO, even if you think that the CARDINAL and his TEAM are making a few mistakes, DON’T ATTACK THEM and undermine them. Write to them directly. THEY ALONE STILL HAVE SOME RESPECT among the public, and they alone can GIVE some direction to the country and get the people to desit from violence.The of the country being in a WAR SITUATION.
Under such conditions, the author of this article, attacking Farther Subasingha, and comments UNDERMINING the CARDINAL amount to SEDITION.
PLEASE WAIT TILL THE CRISIS IS OVER, and then take it up through church meetings if you are unhappy with the stance taken by the CARDINAL or anyone else.

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Justice & Fairplay/May 14, 2019

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Non-Catholic sinhala-Buddhist has absolutely hit the nail on the head. His post should be championed as thathe reeking with logic and common sense.

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A Disgusted Catholic/May 15, 2019

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No point in writing. The Cardinal does not listen to ANYONE. He has his own political agenda

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Janith/May 14, 2019

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Writer and 90% of commenters shows the exact reason why Our country is in this situation today. It’s money for anything and neglection to true leaders. Only the actors can rule this country. No one is allowed to be loved by the people. People are yet in BCs. Politics is their religion.

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Janith/May 14, 2019

This post is not putting people at risk. And this is not showing the world about the country. Disgusting

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K.Pillai/May 14, 2019

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A person in regular contact with God says that God does not like anyone using God’s letterhead.
‘Fake News’, well intentioned or otherwise is “No…no…no”.
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Are BBS of SL and the 969 Movement of Myanmar defending Buddhism?
Watch this space.

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Hyshu/May 14, 2019

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“I would also like to ask the government to hold a very impartial strong inquiry and find out who is responsible behind this act and also to punish them mercilessly, because only animals can behave like that,” Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith, the archbishop of Colombo, told reporters.

“mercilessly” from a cardinal? who is to be nominated for a Nobel Prize and was to be nominated for the Pope position.

“There is no need to teach human rights to Sri Lanka where we have had religious inclination since centuries ago, the Cardinal said.

Archbishop Cardinal Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith further said that we should not be deceived by these tricks and should act wisely.”

Now this.

It sounds sanctioned by the cardinal for he did not correct it.

No wonder he was an intimate friend of the the Rajapakses. “Birds of a feather flock together.”
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A Disgusted Catholic/May 15, 2019

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No point in writing. The Cardinal does not listen to ANYONE. He has his own political agenda

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A Disgusted Catholic/May 15, 2019

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He has his own political agenda. No man of God will utter such words as – “have the culprits punished mercilessly”. He is working with Satan.

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Spring Koha/May 15, 2019

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Thank You Ethel Nanayakkara; strong words, softly spoken.

* The Cardinal was right to appeal for calm and for there to be no revenge taken on the Muslim community.
* Everyone, including clergy, should now step back and allow the security forces do their business.
* One important aspect of their business is to stop (many politically motivated) mobs from wreaking revenge on innocent citizens. These last few days I have seen far too many Cyril Mathew wannabees brazenly breaking curfew and leading thugs hell-bent on causing mayhem.
* Strangest of all, President Hope marrys off his son, then takes flight to a seminar on ‘Asian Civilisations’ while leaving his grief-stricken country under emergency rules and curfew, in charge of a squabbling bunch of crooks.

This God-forsaken island is truly is the Miracle of Asia.

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A Disgusted Catholic/May 15, 2019

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He first states – “the culprits should be punished mercilessly.” This could only come from a man who is guided by Satan and not by GOD. Appealing for calm has no effect now.
ALL Clergy should stay away from politics and politically motivated activities. So is the head of the Catholic Church trying to emulate the Ven Buddhist Clergy of this country?

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Suranga Gunasekera/May 15, 2019

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Cardinal is the head of Catholics in Lanka, just like Asgiri Mahanayaka. They spend time with Rajapaksha and Ranil all the time. This doesn’t mean they advice them how to run the country.
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Look at the message and it’s a clear warning. Just like we tell our loved ones when we hear something.
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The question is who’s planning these attacks and why.
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We all know the damages done by BBS and Ravana balaya in the past. Many Mosks and churches were attacked in the recent past.
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Who funded them and what era did they come to existence?
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Did the same people fund the NTJ?
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Who passed the Sharia law and in what era?
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Who embraced the funding of Saudi Arabia and help the sudden expansion of Islam?
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Are these parties representing the majority of their respective religions?
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When people are devided who will get the upper hand in the upcoming election?
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Find the answers and find the culprits behind these attacks.

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Lal and Geetha, Riverside CA/May 15, 2019

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Cardinal is the next Common Candidate.

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A Disgusted Catholic/May 15, 2019

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LORD have mercy on Sri Lanka!!!!!!

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Mano/May 15, 2019

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The world has witnessed the mindset of His Eminence during the several Pogroms and the war against the Tamils in Sri Lanka since the fake Independence of Ceylon in 1947.

Oh God! please forgive !

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Vish/May 15, 2019

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What to ask.where are u daily telegraph. After hppening this situation on 21st april.
may be All of u r hiding.
Please write ariticals who didnt warn people to protect from this incident after they got a warning.
Critiziz the whole government.

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Nathan/May 17, 2019

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ha..the Eminent cardinal himself is a fake. He is using this chaos for his advantage. As someone said next Presidential candidate. He will be our next Bishop Makarios.

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